The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-07-22

l
The hands of the clock moved slowly
on. Waiting is always annoying, now it
was most provoking. But just as he
was debating whether to go or stay the
door of the inner room was opened, and
o pale, fair, faded woman of about 40
made her appearance. The general
J advanced with low bow.
How do you do, Gen. Biddulph? ?"
she said, in languid tones, extending
thin, delicate hand. II am so sorry to-
keep you waiting. but was detained by
Dessa, (sighing faintly). The general
fastened to push an easy chair for
ward. II am really quite glad you
have come" continued Mrs. Comyns,
sinking into the chair, and drawing the
shawl closely around her, ''for she is
altogether beyond me-"
Are you alluding to Miss Daly?"
asked the general hastily.
Yes, sighed the lady. out of
friendship to Mai. DAILY I undertook
the charge of his daughter; but l was
totally unprepared for her wild temper
and ways.
"She is high-spirited?' he suggest
ed feebly.
Very" Mrs. Comyns replied dryly.
MY health is so bad am quite ncom-
! petenv to manage her"
May I not see her?" asked the gen.
eral. after pause.
"She will be here in a minute. l
daresay you heard some sounds of'
quarreling when you came in. Yes, I
thought so; that was Dessa giving her
ayah Iesson-in fact pulling out the
poor creatures hair in handfuls." The
general uttered an exclamation of dis
may. II think it is only right to let
you know what she is" the lady con-
| tinued, holding out her hands to the
fire, though to him the room was in
sufFerably hot, ''unless you are pre-
pared; perhaps you are. Has Maj.
DAILY told you anythinr about her?"
The general was reluctantly compelled
TO reply in the negative.
Just as expected; he is too lazy to
do anything of the sort. My own
opinion is that he is too delighted to get
rid cf her for time. I am not sur.
! prised.
"But she is so beautiful?" said the
general, apologetically. the picture of
his visionary ward rising clearly before
him.
Mrs. Comyns turned her head aside.
"She is a trife dark, was her reply; and
somehow the general traced suppressed
merTiment in her tones.
"She is brunette, then? he asked,
anxiously.
Mrs. Comyns laughed softly. "My
dear Ger. Biddulph, she said, looking
at him for one moment, II see you are
not an courant with the state of things.
May ask if you remember the late Mrs
Daly?"
II have no personal recollection, GER
tainly; but l know her to have been
beautiful and amiable woman" he re-
turned promptly.
"That was the first wife; I mean the
second"
"The secondp repeated the general,
blankly.
at is a most extraordinary story.
Major Daily, in one of his eccentric
moods, wandered up country, fell, i'll,
and was carefully nursed and tended by
q native woman of inferior rank. With
zeal worthy of a better cause, Major Daily
sought her out when he recovered, and
he married her.
| Mrs Comyns soft low voice died
away. The general stood silent as
statue. "Then this girl" he said, at
length, isis
BLACK observed Mrs. Comyns,
"black as your hat on the chimney. A
sound of rapid movement came from
the inner room, the door was burst open,
and before the general had time to re-
cover himself girl stood in the open
ing. All, here is Dessa. Dessa, this
is your guardian come and shake hands
with him"
Speechless with astonisment and yex-
alton, the poor man gazed with horror
on the figure before him. Squat, short,
dressed in the most unearthly garb,
with huge gold rings dancing in her
black ears, and innumerable silver BAN
giles shining on her dusky arms, stood
the beauty of his dreams, the heiress,
his ward. He advanced feeblY, with
outstretched hand. The girls face ex-
| panded into broad grin, her white
even teeth cleaning like pearls in their
ebony setting"
"She is shy" said Mrs. Comyns, with
smile still lowering around the cor
ners Of her mouth "You will be bet
ter friends by and by
/ AssSmuring some incoherent fare
| we'll, the general seized his hat, and
hastily made his escape from the room,
and out of the house. He strobe home
overwhelmed with the horrible discov-
cry. Modification, anger and yexed
pride surged in his heart, and he longed
at that moment for Major Daly's head,
that he might have relieved his ove--
charged feelings. He would be laugh
ing stock Of the season. After 50 much